Hand luggage



Aug. 9, 1938. J. H. PLOTKIN HAND LUGGAGE Filed Feb. 15, 1937 [H In.

QM. V

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE HAND LUGGAGE Joseph H. Plotkin, Chicago, 111., assignor to S.

Dresner & Son, Inc., tion of Illinois Chicago, 111., a corpora- Application February 15, 1937, Serial No. 125,723

1 Claim.

The present invention which relates to hand luggage is applicable particularly to bags having one or more case sections whose top, bottom and end walls are relatively flexible. Use is made of 5 an interior partition so connected to the bag bottom and to the carrying handle at its topthat a sustaining force will be transmitted vertically through the bag for its entire distance. An example of a bag to which the present improvements are well adapted is the common gladstone of the present time.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a Gladstone bag showing one case section (the lower) in horizontal position, and the other case section (the upper) swung to vertical position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section through the bag on line 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective, showing certain parts affording a hinge support for the carrying handle and a striker plate for the partition together with a releasable support therefor;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail in section on line 4 of Fig. 1; and t Fig. 5 shows a striker plate of 'modified construction.

As shown, the bag may be in the form of a gladstone having two complementary case sections A and B, each comprising top and bottom walls a and b, respectively, which are relatively flexible. The meeting edges of the case sections along the bottom are suitably interconnected to a hange board ii with which is associated a reinforcing bar I extending lengthwise of the bag along its bottom. In connection with the board and bar is a flexible tongue 8 extending from the lower edge of a partition 9 whose upper edge lies adjacent the bag top,

The meeting edges of the case sections adjacent the bag top are reinforced by angle bars Ill and l I, from one of which is extended a pair of slotted tongues l2 adapted to receive engagement from swinging latches l3 which are mounted exteriorly of the bag in connection with the angle bar on the other case section. The angle bar ll serves as a mounting for a fitting which lies exteriorly of the case, this fitting comprising a base plate l from which is extended a pair of spaced posts [6 between which is hingedly secured, as by a pin ll, one end of a U-shaped carrying handle H. Two such fittings are employed, one for each handle end (see Fig. 1). Depending from the base plate is a pair of tongues 18 adapted for insertion through slots in the reinforcing bar I I for clinching engagement with the head 20 of a (Cl. Nil-) striker plate 21 which depends into the case. Secured upon the striker plate is a base 22 for supporting a fastener which may be a turn button 23 adapted in one rotative position to pass freely through a gromet 25 adjacent the swing- 5 ing edge of the partition (see Fig. 2). The partition which is free to swing over the button against the striker plate may be locked thereagainst upon turning of the button to transverse position,

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the supports for the handle may be two in number, each having an associated striker plate. With such a construction two gromets are provided in the partition. Between the striker plates I have shown a spring lock L contained within a plate frame and adapted to co-operate with a pair of eyes 26 that are extended from the angle bar [0 in the opposite case section. It is feasible, however, to utilize a striker plate of the kind shown in Fig. 5 in which I employ a connecting web 30 from opposite ends of which are extended striker plates 3|, a sufficient space being left therebetween for accommodation of the look. In this construction there is a common mounting for the two base plates l5'which support the posts to which the handle ends are connected.

Referring to Fig, 4, the case section B is shown as provided with corner striker plates 35 secured to the reinforcing bar I], these striker plates receiving engagement from upper corners of the partition 9. These striker plates are positioned in the same plane with the other striker plates 21 in the central region of the case so that the swinging partition may engage simultaneously with all the striker plates.

In use, the carrying handle transmits a lifting force through its hinged mounting to the reinforcing bar II, and thence to the striker plates 2| which are in releasable supporting engagement with the partition, the lower end of which is hingedly connected to the bottom of the bag. There is accordingly provided a support extending continuously from the handle through the center of the bag to its bottom. This is of importance because the load contained within the bag may thereby be adequately supported at the bottom which is prevented from bulging outwardly by the means just described.

I claim:

A luggage bag comprising two complementary case sections having flexible bottom walls, a reinforcement extended along the bag bottom between the case sections, a hinge connection between the case sections adjacent the reinforcement, a swingable partition extending upwardly between the case sections to a point adjacent the bag top, means providing a hinge connection between the lower edge of the partition and the reinforcement at the bag bottom, a pair of striker plates for the swingable partition depending from the top of one case section, said striker plates comprising angular members, the horizontal portions of said plates abutting the underside of said top case section, a fastener extended outwardly 10 from each of the striker plates adapted for re- 

